Pirin Airfield

The closure was due to economic and structural changes. The airfield was primarily a base for the state-run agricultural aviation network ('Селскостопанска авиация'). This system was dismantled after the fall of the socialist regime in 1989. The breakup of large, state-owned collective farms and the privatization of agricultural land eliminated the demand for large-scale aerial crop dusting, which was the airport's main purpose. The associated state-funded aeroclub also lost its financial support, leading to the cessation of all aviation activities.

The airfield is closed and in a state of dereliction. The paved runway, while still visible on satellite imagery, is cracked, overgrown with vegetation, and unusable for any aviation. The land and its associated buildings, such as hangars, have been privatized. They are reportedly used for various private commercial and industrial purposes, including storage for agricultural machinery, workshops, and a concrete production facility. In recent years, official proposals have been submitted to the Gotse Delchev municipality to develop a large-scale photovoltaic (solar) park on the site of the former runway.

During the socialist era (approx. 1960s-1989), Pirin Airfield was a significant local hub for agricultural and sport aviation. Its primary role was serving the extensive agricultural needs of the fertile Mesta river valley. It operated a fleet of utility aircraft, most notably the Antonov An-2, for crop dusting, fertilization, and pest control. Additionally, it was home to the local aeroclub, which was a center for sport aviation, facilitating activities such as parachute jumping, glider flights, and initial pilot training for the community. It was never used for scheduled passenger flights or major military operations.

There are no concrete or funded plans to reopen Pirin Airfield for aviation. While the idea of reviving it for light aircraft, general aviation, or tourism has been sporadically discussed by local business interests over the years, several factors make this highly improbable. The prohibitive cost of restoring the runway and infrastructure to meet modern safety and regulatory standards, the private ownership of the land, and the advanced plans for converting the area into a solar park effectively preclude its reopening as a functional airport.